Drivers remain committed to keeping their vehicles properly maintained through the coronavirus pandemic, with relatively few intending to make full use of the automatic six-month MOT extension, new research for RAC Approved Garages shows.*
- Half of drivers still plan on getting their car serviced as normal, despite COVID-19
- Quarter of drivers surveyed unaware of the current six-month MOT extension
- RAC launches COVID-19 code of conduct for its garage network; majority offer collection and delivery service
Just one-in-seven drivers (14%) surveyed say they will make full use of the extra six months added to MOT due dates, with three times that proportion (44%) planning on getting their car checked as normal despite the impact of the coronavirus.
Of those drivers who don’t plan on using the full MOT extension, half (52%) say it is because they want to ensure essential safety checks are made at the right time, while 40% are confident their cars are in good working order and want them to pass their MOTs as soon as possible. But one-in-six (16%) say their reason is that they are worried there will be a huge backlog of MOT tests as the lockdown is eased further, making it harder to book a test.
More concerningly, of those who do plan on making use of the full six-month MOT extension, an overwhelming 83% say it is because they are confident in the roadworthiness of their vehicle – yet the MOT test covers a wide range of areas of a vehicle, some of which are difficult or impossible for a driver to check themselves, including seatbelt safety, brakes and exhaust emissions. And of all the drivers surveyed, more than a quarter (27%) said they weren’t even aware of the MOT extension in the first place.
The MOT extension highlights the importance of drivers keeping their vehicle in safe, working order, something which has caused some leading voices in the motor industry including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to highlight concerns. The RAC research suggests drivers are very aware of the important role quality garages play
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